# Marine Biologist (ANZSCO 234516) Source: Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results; per-occupation invitation counts are ImmiTrend estimates (the Department publishes totals and cut-offs, not per-occupation counts) Data as at: 2 November 2026 (EOI pool: October 2026) Page: https://immitrend.com.au/occupations/marine-biologist-234516 ## Summary As at November 2026, Marine Biologist (ANZSCO 234516) is still invited through the subclass 189: the 15 October 2026 round invited it at 95 points, for EOIs with a date of effect up to 16 September 2026 (an estimated 7 invitations, 12.5% of its 56 EOIs at 65+). The October 2026 189 pool holds 54 EOIs (16 at 85+ points), with 79 in 190 and 62 in 491. Latest state cut-offs: 190 at 110 points (30 April 2024), community reported. Two states list the occupation for 190 or 491. The 189 cut-off ranged 85–95 over the last 6 rounds. ## Pathways | Visa | Pathway | Latest cut-off | Source | Status | Grants | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 189 | Skilled Independent | 95 (15 October 2026, DOE 16 September 2026) | official | Every round | 12–24 (2025-26*) | | 190 | State nominated | 110 (30 April 2024) | community-reported | 2 states list it | 4–16 (2025-26*) | | 491 | Regional, state or family | no round recorded | – | 2 states list it | 1–4 (2025-26*) | | 186 | Employer sponsored | No points test | – | Employer | 1 (2024-25) | ## Will I get a 189 invitation as a Marine Biologist? Likely at 95 points or more. Marine Biologist was invited in 6 recent 189 rounds, most recently at 95 on 15 Oct 2026. ### Last 189 round (15 October 2026) | Cut-off | Date of effect | Est. invited | Queue invited | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 95 | on or before 16 September 2026 | 7 | 12.5% (7 of 56 EOIs at 65+) | Cut-off and date of effect: Home Affairs. Invitations and queue share: ImmiTrend estimates from the 1 October 2026 EOI pool. ImmiTrend's frozen prediction for this round was 85 points; every occupation's prediction and result: https://immitrend.com.au/189-prediction/2026-10-15. Next 189 round: date not announced; forecast pending. ## Which state could nominate a Marine Biologist? Two states list Marine Biologist for 2026-27: VIC and WA are open. ## All states as a table | State | Status | Listed | 190 queue | 491 queue | 85+ | Last cut-off | State places 190 / 491 (all occupations) | 190 + 491 grants | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | NSW New South Wales | open | Not listed | 15 | 10 | 14 | – | – / – | 0 | | VIC Victoria | open | 190, 491 | 15 | 12 | 14 | – | 900 / – | 0 | | QLD Queensland | open | Not listed | 25 | 16 | 26 | 190 · 110 · 30 April 2024 | – / – | 4 | | SA South Australia | open · onshore only | Not listed | 21 | 18 | 21 | – | – / – | 1 | | WA Western Australia | open | 190, 491 | 13 | 13 | 18 | – | – / – | 2 | | TAS Tasmania | open | Not listed | 15 | 7 | 9 | – | 1,250 / 800 | 3 | | NT Northern Territory | closed | Not listed | 3 | 4 | 6 | – | – / – | 0 | | ACT Australian Capital Territory | open | Not listed | 6 | 6 | 8 | – | – / – | 0 | ## How many Marine Biologist visas are actually granted? 2025-26, provisional: 12–24 × 189, 4–16 × 190, 1–4 × 491 (186 and 494 not yet published). 18 skilled visas for Marine Biologist in 2024-25, the 253rd most of 581 occupations: 7 × 190, 7 × 189, 3 × 491, 1 × 186. | Visa | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Change | 2025-26* | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 186 | 0 | 1 | – | – | | 190 | 3 | 7 | – | 4–16 | | 491 | 1 | 3 | – | 1–4 | | 189 | 4 | 7 | – | 12–24 | | 494 | 0 | 0 | – | – | ## Cut-off history ### 189 rounds, latest 8 Where it ranks (last 2 FY): invited in 4 of 4 rounds; invitations per round −30% this FY so far (7 in 1 round) against last FY (30 in 3 rounds). | Date | Min. points | Date of effect | Est. invited | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 15 October 2026 | 95 | 16 September 2026 | 7 | official | | 4 June 2026 | 95 | – | 4–5 | official | | 13 November 2025 | 85 | – | 11–13 | official | | 21 August 2025 | 90 | – | 10–12 | official | | 7 November 2024 | 90 | – | 5–8 | official | | 5 September 2024 | 95 | – | 3–4 | official | | 13 June 2024 | 95 | – | 5–6 | official | | 6 October 2022 | 65 | – | – | official | ### State rounds, latest 8 | Date | Subclass | State | Min. points | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 30 April 2024 | 190 | QLD | 110 | community-reported | ## Frequently asked questions ### What points do you need for Marine Biologist subclass 189? Marine Biologist last invited (189) 15 October 2026 at 95 points; ranged 85–95 over its last 6 invited rounds. At 95 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 16 September 2026 were invited. ### Was I invited in the 15 October 2026 189 round as Marine Biologist? In the 15 October 2026 round, Marine Biologist EOIs at 100 points or more were invited; at 95 points, those with a date of effect on or before 16 September 2026; at 90 or less, none. ImmiTrend estimates 7 invitations to this occupation (106–118 to unit group 2345), 12.5% of its 56 EOIs at 65+ points. ### Is the Marine Biologist subclass 189 cut-off rising or easing? Flat: across the last 6 189 rounds the Marine Biologist cut-off ranged 85–95, from 95 (5 September 2024) to 95 (15 October 2026). ### Is 85, 90 or 95 points enough to be invited for Marine Biologist (subclass 189)? Over Marine Biologist's last 6 invited 189 rounds (latest 15 October 2026) cut-offs ranged 85–95. Met: 95: 6 of 6, 90: 3 of 6, 85: 1 of 6. 80 or below: none. At 95 points, EOIs with a date of effect up to 16 September 2026 were invited. ### What are the latest 190 and 491 cut-offs for Marine Biologist? For Marine Biologist: subclass 190 was last invited at 110 points (30 April 2024). subclass 491 was last invited at 85 points (8 December 2022). ### How do I compare to applicants who got invited for Marine Biologist? States and territories issue 190 and 491 invitations under their own policies, not national EOI queue order. Check My Score compares your profile with community-reported invited samples for Marine Biologist; samples may be incomplete. ### Which states nominate Marine Biologist for 190/491? Marine Biologist is on the current 190/491 state nomination lists of: VIC, WA. State lists and quotas change each program year — check each state's official list. ### How many subclass 189 places are likely left this FY2026-27 for Marine Biologist? About 144–156 subclass 189 places are estimated left in FY2026-27 after the 15 October 2026 round for Life Scientists, the unit group's 8 occupations together, Marine Biologist included, of 262 for the year. Home Affairs has not yet published FY2026-27 occupation ceilings, so the places are an ImmiTrend estimate. ### How often are Marine Biologist invitation rounds held? Subclass 189: 1 federal round so far in FY2026-27 (15 October 2026); Marine Biologist received invitations in 1 of them. State nominations in FY2023-24: subclass 190 invitations on 1 round date and subclass 491 on none (QLD; 110–110 points). ### How many Marine Biologist visas were granted in 2024-25? 18 main applicants: 7 through 190, 7 through 189, 3 through 491 and 1 through 186. ## Sources - Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect invitation round results (189 cut-offs) - Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect EOI data dashboard (EOI pool) - State and territory nomination program pages (lists, program status, places) - Department of Home Affairs — BP0068 visa grants by occupation (CC BY 4.0) - 190 and 491 cut-offs are reported by ImmiTrend users unless marked official Figures are from the Department of Home Affairs' SkillSelect EOI data dashboard and invitation round results, compiled by ImmiTrend (CC BY 4.0: cite ImmiTrend and link to the page).